Thomas a



(No Model.)

T. A. DAVIES.

FULGRUM METALLIC SPRING WASHER FOR RAILROAD RAIL JOINTS.

N0. 320,640. Patented Jun 23, 1885.

WITNESSES INYENTOR ATTORNEYS.

N PHERSY PhmmLiihogrzphar, Wnhington. n. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. DAVIES, OF NEW' YORK, N. Y.

FULCRUM M ETALLlC SPRING-WASHER FOR RAILROAD-RAIL JOINTS.

EPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,640, dated June 23, 1885.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. DAVIES, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fulcrum Metallic Spring-\Vashers for Railroad-Bail Joints and other Purposes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one of my improved spring-washers. Fig. 2 is a seetional plan View of the same, taken through the line 00 m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents my improved spring-washers applied to'a railroad-rail joint, the rails and fishplates being shown in section, and two of the rivets being shown headed and two unheaded.

Attempts have been made to employ curved spring-washers for securing fish-plates to rail road-rails, but, chiefly for two reasons, without the expected success. One of these reasons is that when the ends of the springs are drawn back against the fish-plate their middle portions tend to buckle or project outward, instead of remaining flat, and the fulcra of the leverage of the spring change to points nearer the ends. The other reason is that the metal of the spring is upset or its fibers displaced, so that in either case the elasticity or life of the springs is destroyed to such an extent as to render them practically useless for the purpose intended.

The object of my invention is to remedy the defect and avoid the result above stated.

The invention consists in a fulcrum metallic spring-washer made with an angle in its middle part to rest as a fulcrum against the object to be held, and apertures in its ends to receive belts or rivets for keeping it in place and holding it against the said object, as will be hereinafter fully described, and then claimed.

A represents ametallic spring-washer, which is made of a bar of flat steel of suitable length, breadth, and thickness.

The washer A is bent at an angle, B, in its middle part, and has slots or elongated openings Gin its ends to receive the bolts or rivets Application filed December 11, 1884. (No model.)

by which it is held in place, so that its said ends can have a longitudinal movement upon the said rivets as the spring-washer is drawn into place and tends to recover its normal shape. The arms of the spring-washer can be made straight, as shown in Fig. 2; and this form is preferred, as giving the best results. The arms of the spring-washer can be arched or curved in the opposite direction from the bend of the angle B; but should never be curved in the same direction as the said angle, as such a shape would make the said washers less effective.

The distance between the ends of the washer is so short that the maximum amount of metal must be used to get the necessary strength, and the form of the washer must be such that all the elasticity of the metal will be retained and utilized.

In using the springwasher it is placed with its angle or fulcrum against the fish-plate or other object to be held and its ends are forced down against the said object. By this operation the arms of the spring-washer will not lie fiat against the said object, but will have a curve in the opposite direction from the bend of the angle.

By this construction the fibers of the metal will not be upset or displaced to such an extent as to injure or destroy the elasticity or life of the metal, but the said elasticity will retain its full power.

By forming the angle or fulcrum B at one side of the center, so as to make the arms of 8- the washer of unequal length, heavier metal can be used, and a longer and stronger spring will be obtained, the longer arm of the washer acting as a spring and the shorter arm acting as a lever.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The powerful metallic spring -washer A, having apertured ends and an angle in its middle part to serve as a constant fulcrum by resting against the object to be held, substantially as shown and described.

THOMAS A. DAVIES.

\Vitnesses:

JAMES T. GRAHAM, O. SEDcwIcK. 

